Mercy Watson is a series of chapter books written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Mercy Watson is also the fictional pig who stars in the series.

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride was a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book in 2007 —one of three runners up for the Geisel Award.

Six Mercy Watson books were published from 2005 to 2009 by Candlewick Press of Somerville, Massachusetts.

In the second book (ISBN 0-763-62332-6), Mercy Watson joins her human "parents" Mr and Mrs Watson on many travels by automobile ("rides"). It was one of three Geisel Honor Books (runners up for the Geisel Award) in 2007.

Katrina Elizabeth "Kate" DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American author of children's fiction. Her 2003 novel The Tale of Despereaux won the annual Newbery Medal as the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children", three years after Because of Winn-Dixie was a runner up (Newbery Honor Book). DiCamillo is also known for the Mercy Watson series of picture books, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.

Born in Philadelphia, DiCamillo suffered from chronic pneumonia. At age five, she moved to Clermont, Florida for her health (warmer climate) with her mother and her older brother Curt DiCamillo, who would become a noted architectural historian. Her mother was a teacher. Her father remained in Pennsylvania to sell his orthodontic practice and never rejoined the family in Florida.

DiCamillo earned her college degree in English at the University of Florida in 1987 and worked in Florida after graduation. At age 30 she moved to Minneapolis and began working at a book warehouse. That job inspired her to write for children and allowed her to meet a sales representative for Candlewick Press, resulting in submission of a draft that would become Because of Winn-Dixie.

Chris Van Dusen is an American television screenwriter.

Van Dusen has worked on Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to the present, as a member of the production staff. He has written one episode, season 3's "My Favorite Mistake", and, although uncredited, assisted in the transformation of Grey's Anatomy into its spin-off, Private Practice.